Impulse frequency metering system



June 5, 1951 M. WARREN, JR 2,555,865

IMPULSE FREQUENCY METERING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 12, 1945 VARIABLE FREQUENCY cwvsmrvr MAGNITUDE GENERATOR CURRENT L zz DRAIN/N6 CURRENT RECTIFIER J I 36 .37 4 FILTERING i CALIBRATING METERING 55 INVENTOR My. WxmeA Ji BY .0

A ORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IMPULSE FREQUENCY METERING SYSTEM Mead Warren, Jr., ,Maryville, Tenn., assignor to Aluminum Company of America, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

. Application December 12, 1945, Serial No. 634,582

2 Claims. (Cl. 175-368) This invention relates to the measurement and indication of frequencies of electronic impulses.

The object of the invention is to provide a frequency metering system which will be speedily and accurately responsive to variations in the frequency impulses being measured.

Further objects of the invention particularly v in providing a system adapted to receive impulses from a remote transmitter and produce a voltage proportional to the frequency of the impulses, which voltage in turn is used to operate a remote meter, will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing a typical system embodying the invention.

The impulse circuit, the frequency of which is to be determined, is connected to the primary 5 of transformer 6. The current from the secondary I passes through fixed resistors l3, M to control grids 8 and 9 of two Thyratron tubes [0 and II. A normal voltage, for instance of '7.5 volts, is impressed on the grids from the D. C. supply I2. The plates [5, I6 of the tubes H), II are in circuit with the D. C. source I! through resistors l8, I9 set to give a plate current of 20 mils, for instance, both tubes drawing approximately the same amount.

These circuits provide a variable frequency, constant magnitude generator comprising the gas filled tubes II], II which are alternately fired by the alternations of the voltage supplied to the primary 5. The voltage produced in the plate circuit of these tubes has a constant magnitude because of the characteristic of the gas filled tube and because the plate voltage is from a well regulated source H.

The generator circuits supply current to condensers 2|, 22 with condenser 23 in shunt across the supply line; these condensers 2|, 22 consti' The metering circuit comprises conductors 30,:

3| connected to the rectified supply at 26, 21, 28 and having an independent power supply of D. 0. current at 32. A choke 33 is placed in series to block surges from the voltmeter 34, across the terminals of which is the variable resistance 35.

discharge of the Thyratron tube marked II has On the opposite side of the choke 33 is the shunt 36 comprising the copper oxide half-wave rectifier 31 and condenser 38 in series. The copper oxide half-wave rectifier is turned so as to make an easy path for electrons fiOWll'lg into condenser 38 and to offer a high impedance to electrons flowing out of the condenser. This, in effect, rectifies any A. C. ripple or harmonics passing through the rectifier tubes 24, 25. The electrons stored in the condenser 38 drain slowly as a D. C. current through the copper oxide rectifier 31 and choke 33 to give a steady deflection on the meter 34.

The electronic impulses received at the primary 5 of transformer 6 are thus used to control the generation of an A. C. voltage. This voltage is used to produce a current which is rectified and then smoothed out in a filtering metering cir cult to give the frequency reading on the meter 34. The operation of the generator circuits of the tubes [0, ll uses the transformer secondary voltages to fire the tube circuits in alternation. At a given instant the control grid voltage of one tube is being driven in the positive sense, while the other is being driven in the negative sense from the normal no signal value. Suppose the gas discharge has previously been established in the tube whose grid is being driven more negative. When the grid of the other tube is made sufiiciently positive, the gas discharge will be established in this tube. Establishin of the discharge causes the voltage on the plate of the tube to drop and a voltage to appear across the plate re-,

sistor; This voltage drop is reflected through condenser 23 to momentarily drive the plate voltage of the first tube to some negative value and this first tube goes out. On the reversal of the applied signal voltage, this process is repeated in the reverse sense. Thus a variable frequency, constant magnitude voltage is generated.

It is the current produced by this voltage through condensers 2i, 22 which is rectified, filtered and used to operate the D. C. meter 34.

This process can be traced in detail as follows: With reference to the drawing, suppose the gas previously been established. As the signal, applied at terminals 5 of the input transformer 6, begins to drive the grid 9 of this tube in the negative sense, it drives the grid 8 of the other Thyra tron tube In in the positive sense. When the grid of this second tube is driven far enough in the positive sense (to about -1 /2 volts), the gas discharge is established and the electron flow can be traced as follows: Beginning at ground at the 30. As soon as condenser 2| is charged, no more; u

electrons can flow through the metering circuit 30, 3| regardless of how long' the gas discharge ismaintained. Therefore, the amount of m,

flowing in the metering circuit is obviously dependent on the number of discharges. 7

When the tube fires, the plate voltage drops from 150 volts to about lo volts, or a sudden decrease of 140 volts, due. to voltage drop reisistance l8. This'sudden change in voltage is momentarily applied to the plate of the other Thyratron tube H; through the condenser 23, Since tube H is firing, its plate voltage is about 10 volts and consequently this l iO Volt surge through condenser 23 lowers the plate voltage to a negative value and the tube [1 goes out. By this time the grid 9 has been driven sufficiently negative by the signal voltage so the tube remains out.

' As' soon as the tube H goes out, the IR drop across resistance I 9 disappears and condenser 22 is permitted to discharge through resistance l9 and the upper half M, 52 of the diode 25. This circuit in effect becomes the return path, from the metering circuit, of the charging cur.- rent of condenser 2 I. v

This process is repeated in the reverse sense during theother half of the signal voltage. It will be noted that the current through the meter 34 is always in the same direction due to rectifying action of the diodes 2 l, 25.

Efiectively, the plate current of a single tube flows at all times, but one half of the time in one tube and the other half in the second tube. At each transition of the current from one tube to the other, occurring twice per cycle of the applied frequency, a pulse is sent through the diodes and metering circuits. Ii the voltage drops across the plate resistors l8, 19 of the gas tubes are constant, the pulses of current through the meter are constant in amplitude and in shape. The millivoltmeter 34 reads the average value of this pulsing current, and if the pulses are all alike, the reading is proportional to the number of pulses per second, or to the frequency.

If a D. C. voltmeter is connected in series with a condenser, the former will momentarily be deflected by a charging current of the con.- denser. If the condenser charge is reversed, another deflection will follow. The quantity oi electricity passed per cycle (two reversals) will be:

Q=2CE and the average current will be Where f=number of reversals per second Q=electric charge in coulombs I.=current flow in amperes E=voltage in volts C=capacity in farads This ,is a'simplified electron bucket and if these buckets of electrons are smoothed out a 4 direct current will be obtained whose magnitude is proportional to the number of times that the bucket is filled and emptied.

In the present system the rectified impulses from the current drawing condensers 2|, 22 are superposed on the meter circuit, the choke 33 blocks t r s m. the e r 3% an turns hem ma h to s tanls it p vided y the copper oxide rectifier 31 and condenser 38. The

: half-wave rectifier 31 furtheraids in smoothing the pulses into pure direct current by rectifying any A. 6*. ripple or harmonic components present beiore they reach the meter 34.

the current pulses are to be alike, the followin tests. must be held constant:

1 Plate supply voltage for the Thyratron tubes It, n.

2, Resistance of diodes 24, 25 and meter circuit so, 3 l.

4 R gulation. of the pla e s ip-P y voltagev s. pr vided b as filled ol age 'sula qr tubes the ys a ic. vo ta e r gulatin ransforme s iii t A.- Q, p wer imp y? T e filament m ature of the diodes 24 25 eifectively varies the resistance of the tube, but n th s cirsuit h fil nt em e ture is he d, i ed b up l i g he filament current from the tatic voltage r gu ng tr ns e ineh It is i d that he re ing o the JS X h m t all no r th he magnitude of he a p ie signal. o a ehis s p s ble only if. first, th app i d ol age i s fi enfly arge t9 esu t in at ra e fir ng f th gas tu es, and, second, that the cathode-plate drop of the gas tubes is in e endent of r d as cf h tub ihe volta e r q ired at he erm nals o the primary winding 5 s oul h not less th n fi e volts, r e i b e fi ng re t d y th fi led tu es arev so desig d h th r is no iceable effect o g id bia on th cath demlete drop,

The gas fi ed tu es 9 nd have een re: ferred to as Thyratrons because this has beep e the so m ly acce e rm r id c nt ol ed. as fil d tii es- The tubes 24, 25 is diode rent news in t e typical systemshow a th s system resistors l8, l9 are 10,090 ohm, 10 watt, semi-"varia e a d are ad ust to i e a Ple cur en of 2 mils. Resi t rs 3, 1 are 29 990 ohm, 1. watt, and resistor 3 5 for volume oontrol is, an dj stab shunt t me r 34 and de er mined by a acter s of the me s ussi as fo lows; A Signal o kn wn f equen y as: plied and the resis an e 51, ad us ed unti the ete r ads c et Before hi is on h ever, the system should be freed .Qf var one, uperpose byionizat o oi i the Thr et o ubes 1 l wh ch rectified in t d de tuhes, passes th gh e meter e en ith noappl d ignal. an so y give a false imitat on:- "E voltage is balanced out by adjustmentioi resist? ancefi o e egu at d D- 6 c re t sup ly Resis ance 35 is open d an a mic oamms er p a e on t eo t 'u t mi a s 2, afte wh h e an e 0 is ad usted u t l h cmmeter re t is inst decreased to Ze o and no mor Pe ms hisse ting, it is e sentia at on Of h s Pri es u ssilfl, l is fi ing- Fo a ypical arran emen hav ng a ange up. o abou 3.0-, mp es pe se on ndensers 2L2 are 0-2 min .600 volt; t homi ser 150- mm, 60 volt; and -conde ser 8 i .32-9.mf1-, volt.- h i hohe 3. 51- 9 henr s- Mu h h gher req ency r ng u to 1 ,011 im ls s he obtained by prope selection o sho lom onen s- Ihis system is advantageous in having "no moving parts and being adapted to a large range of frequencies. It provides an immediate and accurate response of the meter indication to changes in frequency, including sudden wide surges. The system has extremely high stability and its accuracy is independent of circuit resistance changes over a wide range. The output circuit, the input circuit and the power supply circuit are electrically separate, permitting the power supply to be properly grounded and insure stable operation of the generator. The output circuit may be connected to other output circuits to obtain totalized or differential readin s, and the system prevents high voltages of the power supply from reaching the meter and causing errors from electrostatic deflection.

This system is typically eifective in connection with the control of power from a distant supply, as by electronic telemetering equipment metering the load on a branch line on one point and transmitting the reading with telemetering equipment to a remote meter located at the powerhouse, the purpose being to readjust the power generation to compensate for the load change. The effec tiveness of any such control system is dependent upon speed and accuracy of the telemetering. If a time delay is introduced, the corrective attitude may aggravate rather than correct the load swings. Likewise, any inaccuracy of the remote metering will upset the load schedules. With the frequency-receiving system of this invention, the changes in frequency are continuously and accurately measured and produce D. C. voltage accurately proportional to the rate (frequency) of the impulses, and the ower control is kept con tinuously and accurately linked to the load changes.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connection with typical circuits, it is not confined thereto and it is intended to cover such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A. system for receiving electrical impulses and measuring the frequency thereof comprising a variable frequency constant magnitude generator circuit including a pair of alternately firing grid-controlled gas tubes with cathode-plate circuits actuated by said impulses, the grid-control circuit of said tubes comprising an input trans former, a pair of fixed resistors and a D. C. power supply, each of said fixed resistors being connected to opposite ends of the secondary coil of said transformer and to the grid of one of said gas tubes, and the said D. C. power supply being tapped to the midpoint of said secondary coil and connected to the cathodes of said tubes; the plate circuit of said tubes comprising a pair of variable resistors, a condenser in parallel with said resistors, and a D. C. power supply, each of said variable resistors being connected to the plate of one of said gas tubes and to each other, the power supply being connected to the midpoint between said resistors and to the cathodes of said tubes, and the condenser in parallel with said variable resistors, the opposite sides of said condenser also being directly connected to the plates of said tubes; a pair of condensers each of which has one side thereof connected to the plate of but one of said tubes whereby the current flow through said tubes charges each of said condensers alternately; a bridge type rectifier connected to the other side of each of said condensers, said rectifier rectifying all the current of said condensers, and an output translating circuit comprising a first circuit connected across the output of said bridge type rectifier, said first circuit comprising a half-wave rectifier in. series relation with a storage condenser for averaging the flow of pulses through said bridge, and a second circuit connected in parallel relation to said first circuit, said second circuit comprising in series relation a choke coil and a current responsive device, and an adjustable source of D. 0. potential for biasing the current flow in said output circuit.

2. A system for receiving electrical impulses and measuring the frequency thereof comprising a variable frequency constant magnitude generator circuit including a pair of alternately firing grid-controlled gas tubes with cathodeplate circuits actuated by said impulses, the gridcontrol circuit of said tubes comprising an input transformer, a pair of fixed resistors and a D. C. power supply, each of said fixed resistors being connected to opposite ends of the secondary coil of said transformer and to the grid of one of said gas tubes, and the said D. (3. power supply being tapped to the midpoint of said secondary coil and connected to the cathodes of said tubes; the plate circuit of said tubes comprising a pair of variable resistors, a condenser in parallel with said resistors and a D. C. power supply, each of said variable resistors being connected to the plate of one of said gas tubes and to each other, the power supply being connected to the midpoint between said resistors and to the cathodes of said tubes and the condenser in parallel with said variable resistors, the opposite sides of said condenser also being directly connected to the plates of said tubes; a pair of condensers each of which has one side thereof connected to the plate of but one of said tubes whereby the current flow through said tubes charges each of said condensers alternately; a bridge type rectifier comprising a pair of double diode tubes connected across the input and output terminals of said condensers, said rectifier rectifying all the current of said condensers, and an output translating circuit comprising a first circuit connected across the output of said bridge type rectifier, said first circuit comprising a half-wave rectifier in series relation with a storage condenser for averaging the fiow of pulses through said bridge, and a second circuit connected in parallel relation to said first circuit, said second circuit comprising in series relation a choke coil and a current responsive device, and an adjustable source of D. C. potential for biasing the current flow in said output circuit.

MEAD WARREN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,026,421v Fecker Dec. 31, 1935 2,113,011 White Apr. 5, 1938 2,119,389 Hunt May 31, 1938 2,232,858 Lane Feb. 25, 1941 2,435,210 Fahrner Feb. 3, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Review of Scientific Instruments, Dec. 1936, article by Gingrich et al. at pages 450-456. 

